A forum for Ohio educators, sharing thoughts regarding their health care and pension system (STRS Ohio). Researcher John Curry manages a clearinghouse of related e-mails, articles, announcements, etc. His daily mailings include many items that do not make it to this blog. Contact John (curryfeezer@yahoo.com) if you wish to be on his e-mail list. Kathie Bracy: kbb47@aol.com.

Wednesday, December 30, 2009

MI legislators urge public employees to contribute more for healthcare

Michigan lawmakers push for public employees to contribute more for health insurance costs

(Click images to enlarge.)West Michigan lawmakers say it is time for public employees to pay more for health care.GRAND RAPIDS -- Local lawmakers, eager to adopt reforms before the 2010 election season heats up, are pushing for changes that would have public employees chip in more for their health insurance.

They would mandate public employees contribute 15 or 20 percent toward the cost of their benefits, which they see as a key item to help schools and local governments reeling from state budget cuts.

State Sen. Mark Jansen (photo), R-Gaines Township, introduced legislation that would limit the portion public employers pay to no more than 80 percent of the premium cost or 85 percent if the benefits include wellness incentives and a health savings account.

The measure would also cover elected officials.

"I believe we have to do this given the times we live in," Jansen said.

"These reform measures will help all public employers, like local governments and schools, manage skyrocketing costs of health care benefits and any savings will stay with the public employers."

Jansen said the Senate Fiscal Agency has not completed a cost analysis on the measure yet.

"Lawmakers should deal with the root of the problem --the state's outdated tax structure and funding system," said Doug Pratt, spokesman for the Michigan Education Association that represents teachers.

Pratt said Jansen's legislation and a similar measure in the House does not take into account the $700 million in concessions, such as higher co-payments and deductibles, employees have already made in recent years.

The legislation would apply to those groups as their contracts expire.

Earlier this month, Reps. David Hildenbrand, R-Lowell, and David Agema, R-Grandville, introduced legislation mandating at least a 15 percent contribution but it does not include the incentives in Jansen's measure.

Local city and school leaders, including Grand Rapids Mayor George Heartwell, expressed support at that time for a mandate, but Grand Rapids' largest union objected.

"The health care reform proposals are definitely something we should be looking at as a cost-saving measure," said Rep. Roy Schmidt, D-Grand Rapids. "We want to get some important reforms, like the tax structure and health care, accomplished before the war of politics and things get bogged down."

Jansen is also co-sponsoring a bill introduced by Sen. Alan Sanborn, R-Richmond Township, that would allow local governments to offer employees the same insurance benefits available to state employees.

About Me

A graduate of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music and the Baylor University School of Music, I am a professional symphony musician by background. I am also a retired elementary classroom teacher (nonmusic), having taught in the Alliance (OH) City Schools 2-1/2 years and the Columbus Public Schools 30 years. My first job was as harp instructor at The University of Texas; currently I am a Lecturer in Harp at The University of Mount Union. As a retired educator and a life member of a number of professional organizations, including the Ohio Retired Teachers Association and the Ohio Education Association-Retired, I also worked through CORE (Concerned Ohio Retired Educators, which officially disbanded 9/20/12) to help bring about badly needed reform in our teachers retirement system, STRS Ohio. My e-mail: kbb47@aol.com.